Leading member of Syria's ruling al-Baath party kidnapped in Swaida

A leading member of the ruling al-Baath party was kidnapped Wednesday by unknown people in the predominantly-Druze province of Swaida in southern Syria.

Shibli Jannud, the head of the Swaida branch of al-Baath Party, was kidnapped near the town of Salkhad southeast of Swaida, said Youssef Jarbou, a leading spiritual Druze leader.

"Unknown men kidnapped Shibli earlier today and set his car on fire near Salkhad," the revered sheikh told Xinhua, adding that the car was found without any bodies inside.

Jarbou stressed that the man was not killed, but kidnapped, noting that the last phone call with him was at 9.00 a.m. local time Wednesday during his visit to the wounded soldiers of the Syrian army.

Jannud is considered as the most important official in Swaida, as the province's governor comes next in importance.

Swaida, which has remained largely calm during the country's four-year-old conflict, has witnessed some anti-government protests earlier this month, following twin bombings that killed one of the Druze leaders, who was an opponent to the Syrian administration. Endit